Offshore staff
SINGAPORE -- Doha-based Gulf Drilling International Ltd. (GDI) is evaluating the potential of investing in supply boats, accommodation vessels, and venturing into drilling related services as part of its strategy to become a global player.
The 60/40 Qatar Petroleum and Japan Drilling Co. joint venture is expected to make an investment decision next year, says CEO Yousif R. Al-Khater.
Al-Khater expressed his opinion that newbuild construction costs are too high at present, though he is confident of investing in an accommodation vessel next year, depending on the right construction price.
GDI is expected to order a 400-man accommodation vessel for ongoing upstream projects in Qatar. The company is now evaluating construction costs and expects to have an accommodation vessel ready for operation by 2010.
Elaborating on the longer-term plan, GDI chairman Mohd Shareef Al-Sherawi says the Qatar-Japan partnership aims to accumulate a fleet of 20 jackups over the next 10 to 15 years to become a major global rig operator.
"We want to be an international operator," he said at a Singapore press conference on Nov. 24 at the inauguration of GDI's first newly built jackup.
Though GDI is focusing on Qatar, its expansion plans include providing rigs and services to the Middle East region, including Iran, and moving into India as part of its global expansion.
The fleet building process has already begun with the $125-million jackupAl Khor, which is being readied for a two-year contract to drill 33 wells in Qatar's North Field beginning in January 2007.
A second sister jackup is to be completed by November 2007 at Keppel FELS, Al-Khater said.
11/26/2006
